Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A French Royal and Military Order of St. Louis attributed to Général de Brigade Jean-Pierre Piat, a Baron of the Empire

France, Kingdom, Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Knight’s breast badge, 42 x 36mm., gold and enamel, ball finials, unmarked, fragmentary ribbon with bow rosette, contained in brown leather case, slight enamel damage, good very fine £ 550-650

Jea-Pierre Piat was born in Paris on 6 June 1774. He entered the army as a 2nd Lieutenant on 10 January 1792 in the 56th Regiment of Infantry - later the 88th Line Infantry demi-brigade. With them he served in the Northern Army during 1792-93 and was wounded in the hand at the battle of Neerwinden, 18 March 1773. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 10 Vendémiaire year II. Served in the wars of Years II-IV with the Army of the Sambre and Meuse. Went to Italy and was appointed Captain of Grenadiers on the field of battle on 26 Ventôse Year V, for his conduct at the passage of the Tagliamento. He then served with the Eastern Army in Egypt. He distinguished himself at the battle of Sedenian, 17 Vendémiaire Year VII and was appointed Battalion Commander on 8 Frimaire Year VII. Piat was wounded in action at Bénéhadi, 19 Germinal Year VII, with a shot to the kidneys, was wounded in the face during the siege of Cairo and received a knee injury at Alexandria, 30 Ventôse Year IX. Returning to France in Year X, the 88th went into garrison in Phalsbourg. On 11 Brumaire Year XII he was appointed Major of the 2nd Line Infantry and was created a Legionnaire of the Legion of Honour.

Piat then served in the campaigns of the Grande Armée during the period Year XIV-1807. Was promoted to an Officer in the Legion of Honour on 15 December 1808 and was advanced to Colonel of the 85th Infantry Regiment on 7 April 1809. With the Grande Armée he served in Russia where he was granted the title of Baron. Served in Saxony during 1813. On 2 April 1813 the Emperor appointed him a Brigadier-General and as such he served in Italy.

Following the first abdication of Napoleon, Piat returned to France in 1814 and on 27 November 1814 he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St. Louis by King Louis XVIII. Notwithstanding his royalist order, he like many others returned fully supported the return of Napoleon as Emperor of France. In 1815 he commanded a brigade in the Girard division of the 2nd Corps and was wounded in action at the battle of Ligny, 16 June 1815. Following the second abdication of the Emperor Piat was placed in the reserve until his retirement on 5 April 1824.

After the July Revolution 1830, he commanded the Var Département; was awarded the Commander Class of the Legion of Honour on 16 November 1832, then commanded the haute-Alpes Département, 1833-37. Then after a period of service with the General Staff he retired once more in August 1836. With the February Revolution 1848 he became active in the support of Prince Louis Napoleon. For his services he was appointed a Grand Officer in the Legion of Honour in 1850 and became a Senator in the Upper House from March 1852. General Piat died in Paris on 12 April 1862.

With original parchment bestowal document for the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, signed ‘Louis’ and dated 27 November 1814. With the booklet, Some Aspects of the Order of St. Louis and its Insignia, by Robert J. Sadlek; together with some copied research.